So, you’re curious about living in Indiana? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Indiana.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Indiana matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Indiana is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Indiana
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Indiana is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Indiana:
- It’s affordable.
- It’s home to friendly people who like their privacy.
- There is plenty of space (even in cities).
- Everyone knows your name at the grocery store.
- Hoosiers love sports more than anything else…and we have Pacers Basketball!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Indiana:
- You’ll need a car because public transportation leaves something to be desired.
- It’s easy to get bored in Indiana.
- There are a lot of bugs and they’ll be eating you all summer long.
- The winters here are brutal!
Read More: Is Indiana a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Indiana
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Indiana? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Indiana!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Indiana.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Indiana:
- Carmel
- Fort Wayne
- Indianapolis
- Jasper
Read More: Best Places to Live in Indiana
Checklist for Moving to Indiana
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Indiana. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Indiana.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Indiana:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Indiana driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Indiana
- Getting Indiana car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Indiana and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Indiana.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Indiana and your previous home state.
Visit your Indiana Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Indiana Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Indiana.
Things to Know About Living in Indiana
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Indiana, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Indiana
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Indiana ranks 8th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 89.9, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Indiana scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 92.4
- Housing: 76.4
- Utilities: 96.7
- Transportation: 96.6
- Health: 93.9
- Miscellaneous: 95.2
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Indiana
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Indiana from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Indiana’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 7%.
Check with the Indiana tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Indiana
If you own or plan to own real estate in Indiana, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Indiana ranks 22nd (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .85%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Indiana tax office for the most current tax rates.
Indiana’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Indiana is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Indiana ranks 18th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Professional and business services
- Finance and insurance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in Indiana is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Indiana
Our Indiana moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Indiana is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
National Parks that you can visit in Indiana include:
- Indiana Dunes National Park
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Indiana
Indiana is the 19th state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is Michigan, to its south is Kentucky, to its east is Ohio, and to its west is Illinois
What is the capital of Indiana?
The capital of Indiana is Indianapolis.
Indianapolis is located in Marion County with a population of 867,125.
What is the population of Indiana?
The population of Indiana based on 2020 US Census data is 6,785,528.
What is the largest city in Indiana?
The largest city in Indiana is Indianapolis.
What is the size of Indiana?
Indiana is 36,420 square miles, making it the 38th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Indiana?
The state motto of Indiana is: The crossroads of America
What is the state bird of Indiana?
The state bird of Indiana is the Northern cardinal.
What is the state flower of Indiana?
The state flower of Indiana is the Peony.
What is the state tree of Indiana?
The state tree of Indiana is the Tulip Tree.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Indiana?
The minimum wage in Indiana is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Indiana?
The median annual household salary in Indiana is $55,746.